stewart



A, E. STEWART. KNiTlNG MACHlNE. APPLICATION ?!LED MAY 5 1913. .1,l 94,677. ,.Pammmig. m10.

Ml? pm PQM A. E. STEWART.

KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLlcAUoN FILED 11111115.1913.

` 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A. E. STEWART. KNITTTNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 5. T913.

l ,l 9495"?? laucnfod Aug. 15, 1916.

' 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Mfvve/ggg.' l 7-01/ @To 7'. WMZ/Z m c ZIv U! CA a, i L@ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT E. STEWART, OF FRANKLIN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOB T ACME KNITTING MACHINE AND NEEDLE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW HAMPSHIQEE'.

KNITTIrG-MACHINE.

v v151 94,677. Specification o f Letters Patent. Patented Aug, pagg( i Application led May 5, 1913. Serial No. 765,428. v

Toall wlzvomz'tmcy concern: sentS a plan view of portions of the same. 55 .Ile it known that I, ALnar E. STEWART, Fig. 3, represents an end view, partially in of Franklin, in the county of Merrimack section, as taken on line Figui,I of'porand State ofNew Hampshire, have invent-v tions of the pattern mechanism showing its edV certain new and useful Improvements in relation to a well known toe and heel pat- Knirting-vlachnes, of which the L'ollowing tern mechanism. Fig. 3a, represents a. detaii 60 fis a specification, reference being had to view of the actuator and the release tripthe accompanying drawings, forming part pers for controlling the operationr oft-he thereof splice yarn changer. Fig. et, represents a This invention has reference to improvesectional view as taken on line 4-4'Fig. 2,

, ments in knitting machines and resides parshowing lportionsofthe needle and skeleton 65 ticularly in the pattern mechanism wherecylinders, the driving gear therefor', and the by the length and the fashioning of a stockmeans for lifting the needle cylinder. Fig. ing, and the change of yarns at various 5? represents a sectiIlal detail viewf of porpoints in the knitting operation are effecttions of the needle cylinder and its lifting ed or ycont-rolled. device as taken on line 5;-5 Fig. 2 to show 70 One object of the invention is to so conthe connection with the actuating slide rod struct a pattern mechanism for knitting mafor the cylinder lifter ring. Figjo, reprechines that its actuating device may he conscntsl a detail view of the means for operatti-olled, as to the degreeof its action in oping said slide rod from the pattern wheel.

erating the! pattern mechanism, by means .Fig,v..7, represents an enlarged plan view of 75 carried by the pattern mechanism and rep parts ofthe device as taken on line 7-7 lated to the devices of said pattern mecha- Fig. 3. f

. Ynism which act initially to operate or cony. Similar; characters of "reference designate 25 trol the change of yarn. "corresponding parts throughoutf;

lAnothery object of the invention is to so' As shownin the drawings 5 indicates lthe 80 construct apattern mechanism thatl it may bed plate of the machine frame having the have a duplex action toeect the tensioning cam ring supporting member 10, which has of the/yarn more or less gradually during the depending flange 11 furnished with the y the" knitting of the leg and to effect, a sudopening and'provided at its lower `end nisms for knitting machines.

den tensioning of the reinforce courses bewith the collar or flange 13 formed in part forev and vafter the `knitting of the toe. with the cylindrical bearing 11 forthenee- Another object of the invention is to simdle cylinder 15 which is rotatably supported plify the construction of pattern mechaon the ring 16 having at its lower edge the i usual cams 17. V17 which are complemental to vOther objects of the invention will appear cams on the ringlS rotatably supported on 90 from the following description. Y the collar 13 and having the operating le- The inventionconsists in the novelcon-v ver 19 which extends through opening 12 structionof the pattern wheel and in the of the depending flange 11. and is operated 40. means for operatingtheA same. by rod 20 slidably mounted in the machine The invention also consists in the 'means frame. The operation of raising and low- 95 for controlling the operation ofthe pattern ering the needle cylinder is effected by the y wheel. sliding of rod 2O to cause thepartial rota- The invention also consists in such other tion of cam ring 18.4 The operation of rod novel features of construction and combina- 20 `in -one direction is effected v by its tion of parts as Shall hereinafter be more spring 2l. fully l described and pointed out in the Frame memberli has' the stud shaft 22 on claims. y which' is rotatable the sleeve 23 of a bel\ Figure l, represents a side elevation of crank lever having the upwardly extending roo ` parts of a knitting machine showing the imrm 2st, engaging with rod 20, and the hori- "i1 proved pattern mechanism. Fig. l, reprezontal arm Qlihaving at ts outer end the set sents a sectional detail view taken on line screws Q6 and-Q7 which. respectively rest on a-c Fig. l1. Fig. l", represents a side view the ends 2S andf29 of leve. s 30 and 31 which of portions of the stop lever. Fig. 2, repreare pivot-ally"-innnted onT 1 stud extending pin 78 engages lip 81 and effects the swinging of arm S0 a similar distance. Arm 80 is connected by the pvoted rod 83 with pin 62 of quadrant lever 60 which lat-ter actuates lever 54 carryingpawl 5T which, as above stated, is engaged with the pattern wheel 34 and the distance through which said pattern wheel is moved or advanced at each forward movement of pa wl 5T will depend upon the distance through which the free end of said lever 60is swung by the operation of arm 80 and rod 83. l

Pivotally mounted lon the stud S5, which extends from the machine frame is a cam level 86 having at its 'upper end the follower ST adapted to ride over any one or more of the pins 46, 46 ofthe pattern wheel 34 whereby lever S6 may be swung on its stud S5 more or less depending upon the degree of projection of the particular pin 46 acting atl t-lie time on said follower 8T. The lower end of cani lever 86 is pvotally connected with the arm 88 ofy plate 89 which plate is in effect a bell crank pivOtally mounted on the stud 90 of the machine frame and having the stops 91, 92, and 93 located relatively to ,the stud 90 and to the movement of pin 62 of quadrant lever 60 so that when one of said stops 91, 92 or 93 is positioned in the path of said pin the movementof said pin 62 and of its lever, in this direction, may b e limited. Spring 94, connected to said bell crank plate 89 and to a fixed part of the machine tends constantly to swing upward the free end of said bell crank while .the outward movement of follower 87, or the upper end of lever S6 acts to swing the free end of said bellV crank downward, against the action of said spring 94, to locate one or'. the othciof said stops u 91, 92 or 93, as the casev `may be, in the path of pin 62. j i v The relative location of the stops 91, 92 and 93 determines the distance to which pin 62 may be moved at each operating movenient of arm 8O and hence, this determines the swinging of quadrant lever 60 in one direction and of lever 54 inthe -other direction whereby the retractive movement of lever 54, being proportioned to tlie'throw of lever 60, will carry pawl 5T backward a distance equal to the length of one orinore of the teeth on the periphery of the pattern wheel and the forward movement of said pawl will be from its adjusted point-of its retraction forward tov a fixed limit of movement. Vhile no limitation is herein placed on the location of thestops 91, 9;). and 93, I prefer to so locate said stops respectively 'that stop 91 permits the retractive movement of said pawl 5'7 a distance of six teeth of the pattern wheel, stop 92a distance of three teeth, and stop 93 a distance of one tooth. If, therevare, ai of as pins 4G, 4G- are ifea-acted the' follower S7 of lever 86 will ride on ring' 45 tern wheel is rotated at its slowestn4 vof the pattern wheel and, as a result stop` rprojected pin will swing bell crank S9' to bring stop 91 to position to intcrceptpin 62 and lever 60 will effect the retraction of pawl 57 a distance of six teeth, or thirty courses of knitting, while if said pin-16 is projected so that its seat 48V is engaged Vby its pin -19 the result will be that the pattern wheel will be advanced, at one point, a distance of three teeth correspondingto fifteen courses of yarn. The more the. pins46, 46 are projected the inore pawl 5f vis retracted and therefore the pattern wheel is thev more rapidly Vused up or rotated. VhenH-,all of said pins 46, 46 are fully retracted the patlam, hence, effects the longest 'pattern`- It' will thus be seen that the driving or-advancement of the pattern wheel or mechanism is' adjusted and controlled by mechanism carried by the pattern mechanism or wheel and that said wheel may be advanced rapidly, at any one or more points in the process of knitting so that a tensioning movement of the knitting cylinder may bel heffected by reason of the gradual advancement .of thev pattern wheel and its cam 51 relative to the lever 30 while, if a slioit stocking'isz-to be knitted or itis desired to shorten theknitting' at anyk one or more points, one or more of the pins 46, 46 is adjusted accordingly.

During the knitting of the heel 'and toe courses, or, it may be, atother times it is sometimes desirable to prevent the operation of the pattern wheel or mechanism and for this purpose I provide the lever 96 .pivotally mounted adjacent the lower end' .of 'lever 86 and-having the tooth 97 and the 'overbalanced end 98 which, when unsustained, is 'adapted to swing to position to prevent the forward movement of pin'62 of quadrant lever 60. Lever S6 at itslower end has a bore to receivethe spring pressed pin 99 which is furnished with the hold'out 100 adapted to be received by a socket of said lever 86 and said pin is so positioned that,

`wlien projected, it may engage the tooth 9T of stop lever 96 whereby when lever S6 is swung, as by its follower riding on a high pin 46 stop lever 96 is swung by the action of pin 99 on said tooth 97. As another"means forbringing the end 9S of lever 96 into position to intercept pin 62 of quadrant arm 60 I provide the rear end of saidlevejr 96 with pin 101 which is engaged in the 'silo/.t'102 of rod `103 which latter is pivotally connected with 'rod 104 corresponding to. thearm or member h4 Aof s :ld patent to Ames.' Shaft pss 105 is journaled in a bearing of the machine frame and has the tripper 106 adapted to be swung by the action of any of the cam plates or slugs 42, 42 against the free end of said tripper during the rotation of the cam wheel.

On said shaft 105 is mounted the level` 107 having the member 108, and connected with the rod '109 slidably mounted and engaged,

as a holding device, with the member 11,0 of

any ordinary yarn changer mechanism which, in the present instance, is reset or raised to receive said holding rod 109 by the cam 111 of the needle cylinder drive shaft 112 which shaft is also provided with the lifting cam 113 for the yarn changer slide rod 114 having the member 115 adapted to be engagedand supported by the lever 116 pivotally mounted on the bed of the machine. This. latter' lever, 116, is engaged by the shoulder 117 of the slide rod 118 which is drawnin one direction by its spring 119 and is retracted against the action of said spring by the bell crank '120 pivotally mounted on the machine and connected by rod 121 with member 108 of lever 107. It will thus be seen that the swinging of tripper 106 by one of cams 42 of the pattern wheel eiects the release offrod109 from its holding .out relation'Y to the yarn changer member 110. and, at the same time,

retracts slide rod 118 to permit of the engagementof its related lever 116 with the member 115 of the yarnchangerslide rod 114. When slide rod 118 is retracted lever 1,16 is swung to position to engage said member 115 by a spring.

Provision ,is made. to detain slide rod 118 in its retracted position until its operation is desired. It will be noticed that the end of v said rod 118 is slidable transversely through abend in said rod 109 and adjacent this point of the machine is journaled the stud 122 having the holding arm 123 which when swung downward intercepts the endof said rod 118. On said stud `122 is fixedA the trips per 124 having the shoulder 125 adapted to .be engaged b the pivoted spring latph 126i to sustain sai tripper'124 and said sto; arm Y 123gin ythe raised .or inoperative p ition-S.`

agains'tthe action of its spring127.v Thiais` upward movement of tripper 124 is eected t by the passing of acam slug 43 ofthe pat-11j tern wheelunder said, tripper` while the re- {i} lease oftripper 124 from its holding latch 126 is` effected by-:the ,operationfofftripper .128 which ispivotally mounted onsaid stud 122 and has the inclined edge 129- which bears againstA latch 126 and, when movedup- Ward by cam slug44,eifects the movement of said latch outfofjengagement with the slioulder125 of tripper 124 whereby spring 127 is permitted to` swing downward arm 123 to intercept slide rod 118 and hold said rod against the action of its spring. On theIl next, subsequent, upward movement of arm zwill be in 123 slide rod 118 is operated by its spring and swings lever 116 out of holding relation with the yarn changer member 115. It is of course evident that the cam slugs 42, 43 and 44 should be so shaped as to act solely on the tr'ippers 106, 124 and 128 respectively re- 'lated thereto andV to clear any and all other of said trippers.

Each rotation of the pattern Wheel repre-, sents the complete cycle of operation of knitting a stocking whether said stocking be long or short, and said pattern wheel controls not only the length of a stocking but the tensioning 'of theyarn at any particular point in the knitting operation as well as the yarn changing mechanism whereby the tensioning of the yarn maybe effected with articular relation to the change of yarns i it be desired. Duringthe intermittent rotation of the pattern wheel 34 the needle cylinder is moved at intervals determined by the cams 51 and 52, or by one of said cams, to effect the tensioning of the yarn and the fashioning of the stockingl from the top until the heel is reached. It is therefore evident that the length of the stocking will be determined by the rapidity ,with which the pattern wheel is rotated and that the tensioning of the yarn stocking. 'ssuming that during the rotation of the pattern wheel the distance of one of its f peripheral teeth live courses of yarn are knit then the' relative tensioning of the y yarn will be veffected at the completion of each;

roportion to the `length of the member 32 of lever 30 a proportional amount" l so that the fashionin of thethis-l point will be relative y rapidv 11, Camjujrsg engages member 32 of lever 30""-futthehighr` pomt of'sa'id cam and' ermita the gradualmward movement of sai lever to permit the-r` downward.'movement .of the needle cylinder" whilecam 1:52 is shaped to clear said leverl 4endfl 32: and, beforey and after the knitting-y of the toe',fto-tension the reinforce coursesygV 4 the member 83`of lever 31 to push outward---this end of said lever 131 and,

lis

through the mechanism connected therewith,

to suddenly raise the needle cylinder.

Having thus described my invei'xtmrl` and desire to secure byLette'l-s4 claimas new Patent.`

1. A knitting v machine `having control* wheel, a pivoted arm having a pawlto ro- 'c tate said wheel, a pivoted lever for said pawl arm, yieldable actuatingmeans for said lever, an abutment movably mimlntfkv ed relative to said lever, and rneanqfoon-` trolled by said wheel for movingfsaidabutment to limit the operation of said lever..

2. A knitting machine comprising a con-I trol wheel,- a, pivotedarm havingapavvl to rotate said wheel, means for operatinfg said arm, movable means having a series o stops for interceptin'g said operating means, a

lever for operating said movable means, and an actuator for said lever adjustably mounted on said wheel.

3. A knitting machine com rising a control wheel having a series o radially adjustable control members, a lever pivotally mounted and adapted to be actuated by one or more of said members when projected, an abutment pivotally mounted an operatively connected with said lever, and means for operating said wheel including an oscillatory shaft, a pawl and ratchet operated member mounted thereon, and means actuated by said latter member and adapted to be intercepted by said abutment at times.

4. A knitting machine comprising a control wheel, a swin ing arm having a pawl rotate said whee a second swin 'ng arm actuate said pawl arm, a mova le abutment adapted at times to intercept said second arm, control member radially adjustable on said wheel and adapted to act a ainst said abutment moving means an osc` latory shaftand mechanism operated from the said oscillatory shaft for actuating said second arm.

5. A knitting machine comprising a control wheel having a series of radial guides, a

Copies of this patent may be obtained for means for moving said abutment, a-

wheel having a pair of cams adapted to actuate said trippers.

7. A knitting machine comprising a yarn changer slide rod, a yarn changer member, means for simultaneously retracting said rod including a swinging tripper, a tripper actuated holdback for said slide rod, a latching device for holding said hold back in the open osition, and a tripper for releasing said atching device2 in combination with a control wheel having cams for actuating said tripper mechanisms.

ALBERT E. STEVART.

Witnesses AGNES CUNNINGHAM, Manin J. DEVANNY.

Ms een elch, by addressing the "Commissioner ot latonta,

Washington, D. 0." 

